Glaucoma Surgery Montgomery County, PA

Are you seeking information about treatment and surgery options for glaucoma in Montgomery County, PA? The board certified, fellowship-trained glaucoma specialists at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania can explain the risks and benefits of each procedure and work with you to prevent further vision impairment.

Abhishek K. Nemani, MD, a board certified ophthalmologist whose glaucoma fellowship was completed at the prestigious Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania;

About Glaucoma Surgery

Laser surgeries are popular for either initial glaucoma treatment or as an intermediate step between medications and traditional surgery. For open-angle glaucoma, the most common laser surgery is trabeculoplasty, in which the doctor uses the laser beam to make small changes in the eye’s drainage system to allow fluid to flow more easily and reduce the intraocular pressure.

This is a painless procedure that takes 3 to 5 minutes. Complications are minimal, but long-term success rates are variable. Your doctor will be the best judge of determining whether or not you are a good candidate for glaucoma laser surgery.

When medications and laser treatment are unsuccessful at lowering eye pressure, your doctor may recommend traditional surgery. The most common procedure is called a trabeculectomy, sometimes called filtration surgery, which is used in both open-angle and closed-angle glaucoma.

The surgeon creates a passage to drain excess eye fluid from the inside of the eye to the outside by making a small hinged flap over a small hole in the white part of the eye (the sclera), which is covered by a thinner skin (the conjunctiva). The surgery is usually an outpatient procedure that takes 30 to 45 minutes. It is usually performed under local anesthesia

Who is at Risk for Glaucoma?

Everyone is at risk for glaucoma, including babies; however, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, the risk is greater for some individuals:

Older individuals: Although glaucoma can affect people at any age, it occurs more frequently as we get older. Everyone over the age of 40 should have a comprehensive dilated eye examination at least every two years to detect the disease.

People of African, Hispanic or Asian descent: People with African and Hispanic heritage are more prone to developing open-angle glaucoma than people of other ethnic groups. People of Asian descent have a greater tendency for developing angle-closure glaucoma and normal-tension glaucoma.

Individuals who have:

Diabetes

Extremely high or low blood pressure

Long-term steroid use for severe asthma control

Blunt trauma or penetrating eye injury

Glaucoma history in your family: Research has indicated that open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of the disease, may be hereditary. Although you may not ever develop glaucoma, you are at a greater risk if members of your family have had it.

If you are in Montgomery County, PA and need information about glaucoma treatment or surgery, get in touch with Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania for an evaluation. Early detection and treatment are the only way to prevent further vision impairment and even blindness.

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Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania has locations in Pottstown, Pottsville, Blandon, Wyomissing and the Reading PA areas. Our board certified eye doctors provide comprehensive, family and pediatric eye care and are experienced in all areas of ophthalmology and optometry. Learn more about our eye doctors.